U.S. Historic Sites Under Threat from Climate Change

Around here, we are concerned about polar bears. But, we know the number one threat to polar bears—climate change—threatens everything and everyone on our planet.

Now it looks like historic U.S. sites are at risk, too. According to a new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Cape Canaveral and 27 other historic U.S. sites are under threat from climate change.

"Sea-level rise, coastal erosion, increased flooding, heavy rains and more frequent large wildfires are damaging archaeological resources, historic buildings and cultural landscapes across the nation," according to the report, which is a call to action to better protect the landmarks and take steps to address the causes of climate change.

CBS News reports, "Sea levels have risen 1-2 feet along parts of the East and Gulf Coasts. Global sea levels are expected to rise another foot by the end of the century according to a report from the United Nations. The decade from 2001 to 2012 was warmer than any previous decade in every region of the country, looking as far back as 1901."

"You can almost trace the history of the United States through these sites," said Adam Markham, director of climate impacts at UCS and report co-author, in a press release. "The imminent risks to these sites and the artifacts they contain threaten to pull apart the quilt that tells the story of the nation's heritage and history."

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